The New Zealand government announced on Monday it was extending a ban on sporting contacts with Fiji, where the elected government was ousted in a coup by armed rebels last May. The ban, initially imposed on individuals and teams deemed to be representing Fiji until December 31, will remain until the New Zealand government considers ''sufficient progress has been made in restoring constitutional and democratic government'', Foreign Minister Phil Goff and Sports Minister Trevor Mallard said in a statement. But events such as the Wellington leg of the international sevens rugby union tournament and the 2003 rugby world cup will be exempt from the ban along with other regional and international events where invitations are not controlled by the New Zealand host sporting body.
The ministers said that a refusal by New Zealand to issue visas would see those events transferred elsewhere, penalising local sports organisations without having any impact on Fiji.

Bureau Report